Hitler: The Rise Of Evil

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All Rise...

Judge Kent Dixon was surprised to learn the original network sponsor for this mini-series was Cialis.

The Charge

"By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people
see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as
paradise."…Adolf Hitler

"…you can easily see how that within a few years Hitler will
emerge from the hatred that surrounds him now as one of the most significant
figures who ever lived. He had boundless ambition for his country, which
rendered him a menace to the peace of the world, but he had a mystery about him
in the way that he lived and in the manner of his death that will live and grow
after him. He had in him the stuff of which legends are made."…John F.
Kennedy

"The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do
nothing."…Edmund Burke

Opening Statement

A mini-series that originally aired in 2003 on CBS, Hitler: The Rise of
Evil follows Adolf Hitler's steady rise to power leading up to World War II.
An all-star cast that includes Robert Carlyle (Adolf Hitler), Matthew Modine
(Fritz Gerlich), and Peter O'Toole (President Hindenburg) tackle the challenging
and emotionally charged material with sensitivity and skill.

Facts of the Case

At the same time, one of history's most recognizable and infamous figures,
there is no question that Adolf Hitler raised the a nation to its feet and
returned it to its former glory, following the crippling aftereffects of World
War I. A charismatic and intelligent leader and strategist, Hitler was able to
use his power and influence to commit and sanction some of the most horrible
atrocities ever committed in human history. His ultimate legacy is one of horror
and disbelief that is still felt around the world to this day.

The Evidence

From the moment CBS announced to TV critics that they were embarking on a
mini-series about Adolf Hitler, including parts of his childhood and teenage
years, the task was a challenge to say the least. Network executives were
shocked by the intensity of criticism they received, but that criticism was only
the beginning of the challenges to follow. Budget issues, script approvals and
casting woes seemed to plague the production from the start.

With two months to go before the start of production, documentary filmmaker
David Cherniak takes a close look at the making of Hitler: The Rise of
Evil in his documentary "Hitler and I: Reflections of Evil." With
no lead actor cast, an incomplete shooting script, the project almost $2 million
over budget and difficulty finding shooting locations with the name
"Hitler" attached to the production, tensions plague the production.
On a personal note, a chill ran up my spine the first time I saw Robert Carlyle
in full character makeup and costume. It was as if Hitler himself had come back
to play the title role.

But what is the ultimate result of the production's efforts?

The picture and sound quality of this release vary widely among the
contents. The Hitler: The Rise of Evil feature fares best, with a truly
stunning picture and clear, crisp sound. From an opening montage of scenes from
Hitler's childhood and young adult years, we see a litany of hardships, not in a
quest to excuse his later actions, but possibly to better understand them. An
actor who has always been skilled at immersing himself in his roles, Robert
Carlyle all but becomes Adolf Hitler and fully embodies the role,
skillfully transforming from embittered rejected artist into iconic national
leader.

As one can imagine, comprised almost exclusively of black and white archival
footage, "Hitler: A Career" fares rather poorly on the picture front,
with damage to the majority of the footage. However, realizing the intent of the
feature is to recount historical facts behind Hitler's rise to power, actual
footage is the best source material to have used. The accompanying narration is
anchored primarily in the center channel. A powerful retelling of Hitler's
political background and even some aspects of his limited personal life, this
feature is a strong companion piece.

In "Hitler and I: Reflections of Evil," filmmaker David Cherniak
says "history is usually more complex than the stories we tell about
it." The picture and audio are solid in this feature, but grounded by the
documentary format. During the near one hour feature, Cherniak covers nearly all
aspects of the production, including script development, casting, make-up, and
the central issue of serving the subject material as honestly as possible,
without glorifying or trivializing it. During this feature, Ed Gernon, executive
producer on Hitler: The Rise of Evil, says of the project "it's a
living example of how good men can do bad things for the right
reasons."

It's unfortunate there are no commentaries to accompany this release, as I
would have been very interested to hear the thoughts and reactions of the rabbis
and other scholars who were asked to review the script and provide their
comments for incorporation. As an actor myself, I also would have been very
interested to hear from Robert Carlyle as to how he prepared for the role and
approached the challenge of being true to history without unduly glamorizing the
subject.

Closing Statement

Hitler: The Rise of Evil brings much of Hitler's back story to light.
As the project's producers are the first to acknowledge, there are still many
grey areas in Hitler's life that are missing from historical records. There is
even speculation that Hitler himself may have had these details destroyed and a
new history fabricated, portraying him as a humble worker who overcame struggles
to lead Germany into a new era. The ultimate question still remains…what
happens during the upbringing and socialization of an individual to cause them
to become so seemingly sociopathic in their outlook on other human beings?

The Verdict

More than simply a poster child for evil, Adolf Hitler was a complex and
flawed human being. By learning more about him, perhaps we can better understand
and better prevent the events of World War II from ever happening again.
Hitler: The Rise of Evil is solid presentation and an excellent primer on
the factual evidence and fictional hypotheses that led to the development and
actions of Adolf Hitler. I find this release not guilty and worthy of
congratulations for providing viewers with a well-rounded account of the
historical and personal factors that forged Adolf Hitler.